Mobile emergency call with GPS in Germany: features, costs and what to look for

A mobile emergency call device with GPS is a portable alarm with a panic button that opens a voice connection to a monitoring centre over the mobile network and sends your location, whether you are out for a walk, in the garden or travelling. With a care grade, German long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) pays for the basic home emergency call (Hausnotruf) installed in the home: the basic tariff has been €27 net a month since 1 April 2026, provided the provider has a contract with your fund. A mobile device with location tracking is usually paid for privately.

Home emergency call versus mobile emergency call

Both systems connect you at the press of a button with people who can organise help. The difference is where they work.

Feature	Home emergency call (basic)	Mobile emergency call with GPS
Range	Home and the area close to the base unit	Anywhere with mobile coverage
Technology	Base unit plus wireless button (wristband or pendant)	One device with SIM card, microphone, speaker, GPS
Location	Not needed, the address is known	Location is sent when the alarm is raised
Power	Base unit on mains power	Battery that needs regular charging
Covered by care insurance	Yes, with a care grade and if conditions are met	Usually not

Many providers offer the mobile device as an add-on to the home emergency call. Care insurance then contributes to the basic tariff and you pay the surcharge for the mobile device. The legal basis for the home emergency call as a technical care aid is § 40 SGB XI (in German). Our guide to home emergency call costs explains the refund rules.

Features a mobile emergency call device should have

Location

The device finds its position by GPS, often supported by mobile network or Wi-Fi data indoors where GPS reception is poor. What matters is that your location reaches the monitoring centre automatically when you raise an alarm. Some devices also let relatives locate the user via an app; this should be a conscious choice that can be switched on or off.

Two-way speech

After you press the button, the monitoring centre talks to you through the device. Look for a loud, clear speaker and hands-free operation so you do not need to hold the device to your ear. After a fall this is essential.

Fall detection

Some devices contain a sensor that recognises typical fall movements and raises the alarm if you do not respond. No fall detection is perfect: false alarms happen and not every fall is detected. See our guide to fall detectors and smart home technology for more.

Battery and comfort

An alarm only helps if it is worn and charged. Check how often it needs charging, whether there is an easy charging cradle and whether the monitoring centre is notified when the battery runs low. A light device with a clip, strap or pendant the user actually likes makes it far more likely to be there in an emergency.

Monitoring centre

Ask whether the centre is staffed around the clock by trained staff, which languages are spoken (relevant for English-speaking families) and whom it contacts in an emergency: relatives, the provider’s own response service or the emergency services. With some cheaper devices the alarm only goes to a relative’s phone. That can work if relatives are reliably available, but it is not the same as a professional centre.

What does a mobile emergency call cost?

Costs usually consist of buying or renting the device, a monthly fee including the link to the monitoring centre, and sometimes a one-off set-up fee. Prices vary considerably between providers and service levels, so we do not quote figures here. Always compare offers in writing and check:

• minimum contract term and notice period
• whether mobile data is included or charged separately
• charges for call-outs by a response service
• fees for replacement devices if the device is lost or faulty

On a low income, the social welfare office (Sozialamt) may help in individual cases. If there is no care grade yet, applying is often worthwhile because it opens the door to having the basic home emergency call covered. Our guide to applying for a care grade explains the process.

Checklist for choosing a device

1. Where does the person spend time: only at home or also outdoors?
2. Is mobile coverage good in those places?
3. Can the person find and press the button reliably, even with reduced dexterity?
4. Is the voice connection clear enough for someone who is hard of hearing?
5. Is the device sufficiently water resistant for the shower and rain?
6. Who charges the device, and who notices when it is not charged?
7. Is there a trial period and a short notice period?

If the person rarely leaves home, a home emergency call is often enough. If they spend a lot of time out alone or tend to become disoriented, a mobile device can make sense. Decide together: a device that is not accepted ends up in a drawer.

Data protection and autonomy

A GPS device creates location data, and with fall detection also movement data. Before signing, ask:

• Is the location sent only during an alarm or continuously?
• Who has access, and how long is the data stored?
• Where are the servers, and is there a contract in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?

Relatives should only locate someone with that person’s consent. For people with dementia who can no longer consent, speak to the person holding power of attorney or the legal guardian and, if in doubt, an advice centre. This guide does not replace legal advice.

Step by step

1. Clarify the need: at home, outdoors or both.
2. Check or apply for a care grade so the basic home emergency call can be covered.
3. Get two or three offers and compare them in writing.
4. Test the device in everyday life during a trial period, including a test alarm.
5. Set up emergency contacts and decide how responders get into the home.

You will find more on alarms, sensors and technology in our emergency call and technology section, and providers near you in our directory.